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NSW HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRONG SAFE SEX CULTURE AND WE NEED TO MAINTAIN IT TOGETHER IF WE ARE TO END HIV.

Advances in treatment and biomedical prevention options now mean there are different ways to stay safe. Combined with testing often, we can end HIV by 2020.

CONDOMS, PREP, UVL. HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Do you do it every day? Or do you do it on the go? Either way there is a HIV prevention option that can work for you. For 30 years, condoms and lube have been the best way to prevent HIV. However they are no longer the only option.

‘Safe sex’ for gay men can now mean, condoms, PrEP, undetectable viral load (UVL) or a combination. How do you do it? You choose.

I take PrEP every morning with my vitamins as it gives me around the clock protection. I sometimes use condoms when I want the extra security blanket.

CONDOMS

Condoms continue to provide one of the most effective ways to prevent HIV and many STIs. Condoms are a cheap way to prevent the transmission of fluids passing from one partner to another, and you can use them all the time, last minute or on-the-go.

PrEP

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a HIV prevention option where HIV negative guys regularly take HIV medication to prevent infection. The good news is that one pill once a day provides around-the-clock prevention against HIV.

UVL

A UVL (undetectable viral load) means a HIV positive guy has taken treatment effectively and reduced the amount of HIV in his blood to a level undetectable by tests. Not only does a UVL improve his health, but also means there is no risk of HIV transmission.

Which one works for you?

Guys tell us what they choose to stay safe. What option do you use?

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What's your risk?

Fucking is a pretty simple act, but your level of risk changes depending on the position you take or the prevention option you and your sexual partners choose. To understand more about your risk, use our risk calculator.

YOU'RE

YOUR HIV STATUS

HIS HIV STATUS

WAYS TO REDUCE RISK

SafeHigh RiskMedium RiskLow RiskNot Possible

Whether it’s all the time or on-the-go, you can access free condoms and lube in various locations throughout NSW, such as sexual health clinics, gay clubs and bars. Paying customers can also find condoms at SOPVs.

More strategies you could use

While condoms, PrEP and UVL are key combinations to help you stay safe, there are some other methods you can use to reduce risk. These strategies have varying degrees of effectiveness, but are based on some conditions that must be met.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS: STAY SAFE

Knowledge of your HIV status and that of your partners is critical (and disclosure of your HIV positive status, prior to sex, is required by law in NSW). Regardless of your status, it’s important to stay safe, because this will not only help you take charge of your own health, but will also help us end HIV by 2020. Now we have plenty of options to help us stay safe, so choose the option that works best for you and enjoy the sex you like!

Same status or serosorting

This is just what it sounds like – you only fuck without condoms with guys who have the same HIV status as you. The thing is, you have to actually know your status and your partner’s to get it right. You can’t guess or assume with this one.

Pulling out

This is when the top pulls his cock out of his partner’s arse before cumming. It reduces the risk somewhat over NOT pulling out, however not by much. It’s a high-risk strategy, and really isn’t as effective as using condoms, PrEP or being undetectable.

Neg Top / Pos Bottom

This is a relatively simple concept – the negative man tops and the positive man bottoms. While this strategy is certainly lower risk than when the poz guy does the topping, there is still a medium risk of HIV transmission.

Negotiated safety / Relationship agreements

This is when two HIV negative men agree to limit sex without condoms to only between partners within a regular relationship. Any sex with other partners outside the relationship must be with condoms. Negotiated safety requires that both parties continue to talk, test, and trust, and to maintain a relationship agreement that reflects the mutual commitment made and incorporates any mutually agreed changes.

Further reading…

The ENDING HIV campaign has been developed using funds from ACON’s primary funder, the NSW Ministry of Health and our own funds generated by fundraising activities.
No funding or support from pharmaceutical companies has been received for this work.

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